U.S. patent application number 16/336029 was filed with the patent office on 2019-09-05 for controlling printing fluid drop ejection.
This patent application is currently assigned to HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P.. Invention is credited to Santiago Sanz Ananos, Juan Uroz Soria.
Application Number | 20190270306 16/336029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62978659 |
Filed Date | 2019-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190270306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uroz Soria; Juan ; et
al. |
September 5, 2019 |
CONTROLLING PRINTING FLUID DROP EJECTION
Abstract
Examples are provided to methods to dynamically control the
timing of a printing fluid drop ejection to deposit printing fluid
on a print zone of a substrate. The examples may also provide
measuring a height profile of a pre-print zone.
Inventors: |
Uroz Soria; Juan; (Sant
Cugat del Valles, ES) ; Sanz Ananos; Santiago; (Sant
Cugat del Valles, ES) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. |
Spring |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY, L.P.
Spring
TX
|
Family ID: |
62978659 |
Appl. No.: |
16/336029 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
January 27, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2017/015431 |
371 Date: |
March 22, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 3/4073 20130101;
B41J 2/0458 20130101; B41J 2/2135 20130101; B41J 2/04581 20130101;
B41J 11/002 20130101; B41J 2/07 20130101; B41J 2/04556 20130101;
B41J 2/04573 20130101; B41J 19/145 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B41J 2/045 20060101
B41J002/045; B41J 11/00 20060101 B41J011/00 |
Claims
1. A method comprising performing a session of dynamically
controlling the timings of printing fluid drop ejections to deposit
printing fluid on a print zone of a substrate according to a height
profile of the print zone, while performing a session of measuring
a height profile of a pre-print zone.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring comprises: receiving
light generated by a plurality of light sources and reflected by
the substrate; calculating a ratio between intensity values
associated to light patterns generated by each light source.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating a zone of the
substrate.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pre-print zone is in a same
temperature section of the print zone.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying the printing
fluid to the substrate.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling a movement
between the substrate and a nozzle applying the printing fluid to
the substrate, wherein dynamically controlling the timings of
printing fluid drop ejections is further based on the relative
speed between the substrate and a nozzle.
7. A system comprising: a printhead to deposit a printing fluid
onto a substrate while moving in a scan direction, a distance
detector to detect, while the printhead moves in the scan
direction, printhead-to-substrate distances of a region on which
printing fluid is to be subsequently deposited, wherein the system
is to dynamically control the timing of the drop ejections based on
the print-to-substrate distances.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the distance detector comprises a
light emitter and a sensor which is to output an electric value
associated to a light intensity of light generated by the light
emitter and reflected by the substrate.
9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a heating device to
heat a portion of the substrate, wherein the distance detector is
placed to be in correspondence with a portion of the substrate
heated by the heating device.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the system is to control a
movement between the substrate and the printhead and to dynamically
control the timing of the drop ejections based on the relative
speed between the printhead and the substrate.
11. The system of claim 7, wherein the region on which printing
fluid is to be subsequently deposited corresponds to a plurality of
locations on the substrate which are to be covered with printing
fluid in correspondence to a subsequent swath.
12. A non-transitory computer readable device having instructions
which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
calculate the timing for drop ejection according to the height
profile of a first print region, control the drop ejections
according to the calculated timing, control movements between the
nozzle and the substrate; and, concurrently, acquire the height
profile of a second region to be printed on subsequently.
13. The non-transitory computer readable device of claim 12,
further comprising instructions which cause the processor to store
the acquired height profile of the second region in memory
locations of a first memory space, each memory location being
associated to a particular part of the second region.
14. The non-transitory computer readable device of claim 13,
further comprising instructions which cause the processor to copy
height values of the second region to a second memory space to be
used to control drop ejection in the second region.
15. The non-transitory computer readable device of claim 12,
further comprising instructions which cause the processor to
determine a distance value based on sensing a light intensity of
light generated by a light source.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] A printer (such as an ink-jet printer, e.g., a latex ink
printer) may comprise a printhead with a nozzle. A drop of printing
fluid may be ejected from the nozzle towards a substrate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0002] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a method according to an
example.
[0003] FIGS. 2a-2d show implementations according to examples.
[0004] FIG. 3 shows a scheme according to an example.
[0005] FIG. 4 shows an implementation according to an example.
[0006] FIG. 5 shows a lateral view of a printer according to an
example.
[0007] FIG. 6 shows a view from above of the printer of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] A printer may apply printing fluid on a substrate. A printer
may be a three-dimension (3D) printer or a two-dimension (2D)
printer. A printer may be an ink-jet printer (e.g., a latex ink
printer). A printer may comprise a printhead which ejects drops of
printing fluid from a nozzle to the substrate. In general, a
substrate may comprise, for example, paper, plastic, a bed of build
material, a combination of these materials, or another material.
Relative motions between the substrate and the printhead are
performed to permit to apply drops to the whole surface of the
substrate. A first relative motion may be performed in an advance
direction (direction y), e.g., by moving the substrate using a
conveyor. Additionally or alternatively, the printhead may be moved
in the advance direction y. A second relative motion may be
performed in a scan direction (direction x), e.g., by moving a
carriage on which the printhead is mounted. While printing, the
printhead may be moved from a first lateral border to a second
lateral border of the substrate in the scan direction x, along a
so-called swath; subsequently, the printhead may print while being
moved in the scan direction x, backwords, e.g., from the second
lateral border towards the first lateral border, along another
swath; and so on.
[0009] In order to increase print speed, the printer may be
controlled so that the printhead fires printing fluid drops while
moving along the scan direction x. In view of the inertia, fired
printing fluid drops move along parabolic trajectories. Therefore,
the timing of the printing fluid drop ejection may be controlled on
the basis of an estimation of the final position of the printing
fluid drop on the substrate. In order to perform this operation,
parameters such as the carriage speed and the height of the gap
between the printhead (in particular in correspondence with the
nozzle) and the substrate may be taken into account.
[0010] A latex ink printer (which may be a particular ink-jet
printer) may make use of ink made of water-based ink such as latex
ink (aqueous-dispersed polymer). A latex ink printer may be used,
inter alia, for banners, signage, decoration, and high-quality
print applications. Latex ink may provide high scratch-resistant,
high durability, and good quality. A printer such as a latex ink
printer uses internal heaters to produce forced airflows to dry and
cure the ink, so as to obtain a complete print job. Heaters may be
positioned in different sections of the printer to heat different
portions of the substrate.
[0011] Further, in 3D printing, the bed of print material may also
be heated.
[0012] Heating the substrate, and in particular heating different
portions of the same substrate at different temperatures, however,
tends to mechanically deform the substrate, e.g., by thermal
expansion, or to ply the substrate. Therefore, the distance between
the printhead and the substrate may be subjected to unpredictable
variations. Hence, the gap between the nozzle and the substrate is
not in general constant.
[0013] Unpredictable variations of the gap may cause print defects:
the printing fluid drop may hit a location of the substrate which
is not the intended one.
[0014] In accordance to examples, a method may comprise performing
a session of dynamically controlling the timings of printing fluid
drop ejections to deposit printing fluid on a print zone of the
substrate according to a height profile of the print zone, while at
the same time performing a session of measuring a height profile of
a pre-print zone. Subsequently, when the pre-print zone becomes the
print zone, it is possible to correctly control the trajectory of
the printing fluid drop.
[0015] It is possible to dynamically control the timings of the
drop ejections on the basis of the height profile measured while
previously printing on other portions of the same substrate. For
example, for a printer (such as a latex ink printer) in which
heaters are provided to heat the substrate, a control may be
performed to promptly modify the timing of the drop ejection to
adapt to the irregular height profile caused by the temperature
differences to which the substrate is subjected.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a method 100 according to an example. At a
block 102, the timing of printing fluid drop ejections to deposit
printing fluid on a current print zone of the substrate is
controlled on the basis of a height profile of the print zone. At
block 104, which may be represented as being parallel to the block
102, the height profile of a pre-print zone may be measured. The
method 100 may be reiterated. At each iteration, the pre-print zone
is updated as the print zone and a new pre-print zone is selected.
When the pre-print zone becomes the print zone (block 106), the
height profile of the current print zone is already known and it is
possible to perform a compensation of the irregular gap at each
location of the current print zone. Therefore, the timing of the
drop ejection may be controlled by keeping into account the
irregularities in the gap between the substrate and the printhead.
For example, while the printhead is moving along a swath and the
nozzle is flung printing fluid drops on a succession of adjacent
locations on the print zone, a distance detector may measure
printhead-to-substrate distances in the pre-print zone.
[0017] FIG. 2a shows conceptually how to control ejection timing on
the basis of the vertical position of a point which has to be
covered by printing fluid (e.g., ink). A nozzle N may be moving at
speed v in the scan direction x at a constant vertical coordinate
z.sub.1. The distance between the horizontal line along which the
nozzle N moves and the point P is h.sub.1. The printing fluid drop
is to be ejected at a firing instant t.sub.1 from a position with a
horizontal coordinate x.sub.1 to describe the trajectory T.sub.1.
The parabolic trajectory T.sub.1 may be expressed mathematically
as:
x(t)=x.sub.1+v.sub.1xt
z(t)=z.sub.1-v.sub.1,zt-1/2gt.sup.2
[0018] In the equation, x.sub.1 and z.sub.1 are coordinates
associated to the position of the nozzle N at the firing instant
t.sub.1; v.sub.1x is the speed of the nozzle N in the scan
direction x at the firing instant t.sub.1; v.sub.1z is the speed at
the firing instant in the vertical direction z; and g is the
gravity acceleration. For convenience, it has been defined
t.sub.1=0. The equations describe a parabolic trajectory.
[0019] A comparative example may relate to an operation of covering
with printing fluid the point P', which is at the distance h.sub.2
from the horizontal line along which the nozzle N moves (vertical
coordinate z.sub.2 which is the same of z.sub.1). The distance
h.sub.2 differs from h.sub.1 by a quantity .DELTA.h. Accordingly,
the printing fluid drop is to be ejected at time
t.sub.2=t.sub.1+.DELTA.t, from position x.sub.2=x.sub.1+.DELTA.x,
to describe a trajectory T.sub.2. The trajectories T.sub.1 and
T.sub.2 may be superposed to each other (if the speed v is the same
for the examples).
[0020] It is therefore possible to estimate the final position of
the printing fluid drop, if the value h.sub.1 or h.sub.2 is known.
An accurate control of the final position of a printing fluid dot
(e.g., an ink dot) on the substrate may be performed by
appropriately timing the drop ejection.
[0021] FIG. 2a also shows that it is possible to define a threshold
height. For example, the threshold height may be h.sub.1. The
threshold height may be associated to a default time instant
t.sub.1 at which printing fluid is to be fired from the nozzle to
reach the point P at height h.sub.1. It is possible to perform a
compensation so that, when the gap is greater than the threshold,
the printing fluid is fired at an instant (e.g., t.sub.2) after the
default time instant t.sub.1. It is possible to provide that, when
the gap is lower than the threshold, the printing fluid drop is
fired at an instant preceding the default time instant t.sub.1.
[0022] FIG. 2b shows a printhead 20 comprising a nozzle 22 (which
may be the nozzle N of FIG. 2a) at a time instant t.sub.1. The
nozzle 22 fires a printing fluid drop (e.g., ink drop such as a
latex ink drop) on a substrate 24 (e.g., paper), while the
printhead 20 moves at speed v along the scan direction x
(horizontal in the figure). A printing fluid drop follows the
trajectory T.sub.1 to arrive at the intended point P.sub.1 on the
substrate 24. Accordingly, a printing fluid dot is formed around
the point P.sub.1.
[0023] FIG. 2c shows another view of the printhead 20. The advance
direction y is represented as horizontal in the figure, while the
scan direction x enters in the figure. As shown by FIG. 2c, while a
session of dynamically controlling the timings of ink drop
ejections on a print zone 24c is performed, a session of measuring
a height profile of a pre-print zone 24c' is concurrently
performed. In proximity to the nozzle 22, a distance detector 26
may detect the height h.sub.2 of the substrate 24 at a location
corresponding to the point P.sub.2, while the nozzle 20 is in the
process of covering with printing fluid a print zone 24c. The
region 24c containing the point P.sub.1 is the current print zone;
the location 24c' containing the point P.sub.2 is the pre-print
zone. While the printhead 20 moves forward or backward in the scan
direction x, the distance detector 26 continues measuring the
height of points of the substrate 24.
[0024] FIG. 2d shows the view of FIG. 2c at a subsequent time
instant, i.e., while the current print region has become the region
24c. As shown by FIG. 2d, while a session of dynamically
controlling the timings of ink drop ejections on the print zone
24c' is performed, a session of measuring a height profile of a
pre-print zone 24c'' is concurrently performed. In FIG. 2d, the
printhead is moving along a different swath with respect to that of
FIG. 2c: if in FIG. 2c, the swath is entering in the figure, in
FIG. 2d the swath is exiting from the figure. At the instant of
FIG. 2d , the gap height h.sub.2 is known as it has been previously
measured. Hence, it is possible to calculate the appropriate
timing, for the ejection of the printing fluid drop to be placed on
P.sub.2 at the instant of FIG. 2d. Notably, while the nozzle 22
fires the printing fluid drop toward P.sub.2, the distance detector
26 may detect the height h.sub.3 in the region 24c'', which has
become the pre-print zone, and which contains the point P.sub.3.
Therefore, for each region, the height of the gap at each location
that is to be covered with printing fluid at the subsequent swath
may be measured. Basically, a height profile is measured for a
region on which is to printing fluid is to be applied subsequently
(pre-print zone).
[0025] In the figures discussed above and below, one single nozzle
is shown for each printhead. However, each printhead may comprise a
plurality of nozzles (e.g., arranged to form a matrix) which may
fire printing fluid simultaneously to define a plurality of
printing fluid dots on the substrate. The control of the timing of
the ejection may be performed, for example, for each of the nozzles
of the matrix or for the complete matrix of nozzles. Different
printing fluid dots may be simultaneously generated by different
nozzles of the same matrix.
[0026] The printhead may be a piezoelectric printhead (e.g., a
piezoelectric inkjet printhead). The printhead may be a thermal
printhead (e.g., a thermal inkjet printhead).
[0027] The printer may be a 2D printer (such as an ink-jet printer
and a latex ink printer in particular) or a 3D printer which prints
on a bed of build material.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a system 300 which may be implemented to
perform printing fluid ejections, e.g., according to the method 100
or using the equipment discussed above. The system 300 may comprise
a processor 302. The system 300 may comprise a storage assembly
304. The storage assembly 304 may be implemented as comprising a
plurality of storage media. The storage assembly 304 may comprise a
non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 306 containing
instructions which, when running on a computer (in particular on
the processor 302) cause the computer to dynamically control drop
ejection based on print-to-substrate distances measured by a
distance detector (e.g., the detector 26).
[0029] The storage assembly 304 may also comprise a storage medium
(e.g., read-write memory, such as a random access memory, RAM) 308.
In the storage medium 308, position data associated to the regions
on which it is to be printed may be stored. In the storage medium
308, the position of the nozzle in relationship to these regions
may be stored in real time. In the storage medium 308, data
relating to the timing of the nozzle ejections (e.g., in
relationship to the height profile of the print region of the
substrate) may be stored.
[0030] The storage medium 308 may comprise a memory space 312 to
store present position data. The present position data may be used,
for example, while performing the session of dynamically
controlling the timings of printing fluid, e.g., at block 102. For
example, the memory space 312 may comprise a memory space 314 to
store the height profile of the substrate region on which the
printer is currently printing (print zone). The memory space 312
may be organized as an array, a list, a database, or the like. The
memory space 312 may contain, at each memory location, a data
regarding the height of the gap at a location in the print zone. In
some examples, from the instant at which the nozzle starts applying
printing fluid on a print zone to the instant in which the nozzle
ends to apply printing fluid on the same print zone (e.g., from the
start to the end of a swath), the memory space 314 is not modified
(e.g., by virtue of the current height profile having been
previously acquired). The memory space 314 may be subsequently
updated (e.g., by storing the profile height of the subsequent
region to be printed on) when the printer has ended to apply
printing fluid on the print zone and the pre-print zone becomes the
new print zone.
[0031] The memory space 312 may comprise a memory space 316 to
store the current nozzle position with respect to the substrate.
For example, the current nozzle position may be expressed as a
Cartesian reference coordinate in the axis x and an in the axis y.
The nozzle position may be updated at any relative movement between
the substrate and the nozzle. Notably, the nozzle position in the
memory space 316 may have a correspondence to one of the positions
of the current height profile in memory space 314. For example, an
association (e.g. a pointer) between the nozzle position in the
memory space 316 and the height profile in the memory space 314 may
be defined. By associating the height of the gap of a region on
which printing fluid is to be applied (as contained in a memory
location of the memory space 314) and the current nozzle position
(contained in the memory space 316), the processor 302 is provided
in real time with information which permit to perform the timing of
the printing fluid drop ejection.
[0032] The memory space 312 may comprise a memory space 318 to
store the current nozzle (printhead) speed. The nozzle speed may be
calculated as the ratio between the distance, in the scan direction
y, between two positions of the nozzle and the time to cover this
distance. As explained above, the nozzle speed may be used to
calculate the trajectory of the printing fluid drops. In some
examples, the nozzle speed is constant and may be stored, e.g., in
a read-only memory space.
[0033] The storage medium 308 may also comprise a memory space 320
to store a height profile of the pre-print zone. The memory space
320 may be updated, for example, in the session of measuring the
height profile, e.g., at block 104. The memory space 320 may
contain a plurality of memory locations, each of which may be
associated to different coordinates in the axis x. Each of the
locations of the pre-print zone may be updated in real-time with a
height value, e.g., a value associated to the distance between the
printhead and the substrate (e.g., as measured by the distance
detector 26).
[0034] With reference to the example of FIG. 2c, while the nozzle
22 is in the process of firing printing fluid on the print zone
24c, the distance detector 26 is acquiring a height profile of the
pre-print zone 24c'. Meanwhile, in the memory space 320, memory
locations associated to points in the pre-print zone 24c' are
updated in real time with the values acquired by the distance
detector 26. This process may be repeated for each measured point
of the pre-print zone 24c' until the printhead has completed the
current swath. At that instant, all the memory locations of the
memory space 320 contain height values of the pre-print zone 24c'.
Then, the pre-print zone becomes the print zone and the height
values of the memory space 320 may be copied on the memory space
314.
[0035] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 306 may
contain instructions which, when running on the processor 302, may
permit to control the timing of the nozzle.
[0036] In particular, the non-transitory computer-readable storage
medium 306 may comprise a memory space 322 with instructions for
acquiring the height profile of the pre-print zone. For example,
the processor 302 may perform instructions for performing a
measuring session of a height profile as defined at block 104. Each
height value which is acquired by the distance detector 26 for a
particular part of the pre-print zone may be recorded on a
respective memory location in the memory space 320.
[0037] While the processor 302 is controlling the acquisition of
the height profile for the pre-print zone, the processor 302 may
also perform other tasks, for example, for performing operations
defined at block 102.
[0038] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 306 may
comprise a memory space 324 with instructions for calculating the
timing for the drop ejection according to the height profile of the
current print region. Accordingly, for each point (e.g., P.sub.1)
which has to be covered by printing fluid, the data for performing
the calculation of the timing may comprise: the current nozzle
position (e.g., retrieved from the memory space 316), the height h
of the gap at that point (e.g., saved in a memory location of the
memory space 314); and the nozzle speed (e.g., retrieved from the
memory space 318). Accordingly, it is possible to accurately define
the time instant at (and the position from) which a printing fluid
drop may be fired from the nozzle 22 towards the intended
point.
[0039] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 306 may
comprise a memory space 326 with instructions for controlling in
real time the drop ejections according to the calculated timing.
The processor 302 may therefore act on an actuator to eject a
printing fluid drop from the nozzle at the calculated time instant
and from the appropriate nozzle position to eject a printing fluid
drop which correctly arrives at the intended point.
[0040] The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 306 may
comprise a memory space 328 with instructions for controlling the
movements between the substrate and the printhead. For example, the
processor 302 may control an actuator to move the substrate in the
advance direction (direction y) and/or the printhead in the scan
direction (direction x).
[0041] Therefore, it is possible to control the movement between
the substrate and a nozzle (printhead). Notably, the speed selected
for moving the nozzle may be used to calculate the timings of
printing fluid drop ejections at performed by the instructions
comprised in memory space 324.
[0042] The processes 322-328 may be performed simultaneously, in
series, or a combination thereof. Techniques of multitasking,
time-sharing, and so on, may be implemented. In FIG. 2c, while the
nozzle 22 is applying printing fluid drops to form printing fluid
dots on a print zone 24c (block 326), the printhead 20 is moving in
the scan direction x and the distance detector 26 is acquiring
height values at locations of the pre-print zone 24c' (block
328).
[0043] Meanwhile, the distance detector 26 may determine a distance
between the printhead 20 and the substrate 24 (block 322). The
distance detector 26 may be placed on the printhead 26, for example
in front of the substrate 24.
[0044] An example of distance detector 26 is shown in FIG. 4.
Telemetry measurements may be performed. The distance detector 26
may include a light source (light emitter). The distance detector
26 may include two light sources, such as a first light source 42
and a second light source 44. The distance detector 26 may comprise
a light sensor 46.
[0045] The first and second light sources 42, 44 may be light
emitting diodes (LEDs). The first and second light sources 42, 44
may illuminate the substrate 24 (in particular, the surface of the
substrate on which printing fluid drops are to be placed). The
first and second light sources 42, 44 may be positioned so as to
have the same distance from the substrate 24. The first and second
light sources 42, 44 may be positioned to be in slightly different
locations, for example at a distance d (which may be, for example,
a distance parallel to the scan direction x or the advance
direction y). The first and second light sources 42, 44 may
generate the same color or approximately the same colors, such as,
for example, two colors which are so similar that their different
color has no or negligible consequences on the light detection
performed by the light sensor 46.
[0046] The light sensor 46 may receive diffuse light generated by
the first and second light sources 42, 44 and reflected against the
substrate 24. The light sources 42, 44 may be controlled by the
processor 302. The light sensor 46 may output a signal (e.g. to the
processor 302) which is based on the received light. The light
sensor 46 may generate a voltage as a function of the light
intensity.
[0047] It is possible to measure the distance h between the light
sources 42, 44 and the substrate 24. The position of the light
sensor 46 may be such that light paths of light generated by each
of the light sources 42, 44 are subjected to different angles
.alpha. and .beta. before arriving at the light sensor 46.
[0048] Light reflected by the substrate 24 may be received by the
light sensor 46. By sequentially measuring the intensity of the
light from each light source 42, 44, using the sensor and
calculating the ratio of the result, it is possible to determine
the distance h between the printhead and and the substrate 44.
[0049] Light generated by the first and second light sources 42, 44
may be reflected by the substrate 24 according to different
reflection angles .alpha. and .beta.. If the distance h between the
light sources 42, 44 and the substrate varies, the intensity of the
light generated by each light source shifts accordingly. With
reference to FIGS. 2c and 2d, the values h.sub.1 and h.sub.3 are
different from the value h.sub.2 and, therefore, the intensity of
the light as measured in correspondence with h.sub.1 and h.sub.3 is
not the same as the intensity of the light as measured in
correspondence with h.sub.2.
[0050] The distance detector 46 may be controlled so that some of
its elements are switched independently (e.g., sequentially). For
example, the first light source 42 may generate light during a
first time slot while the second light source 44 is off. During a
subsequent second time slot, the first light source 42 may be
turned off and the light source 44 may be turned on, to generate
light alone. The light sensor 46 may measure intensity of the
reflected light transmitted by each light source 42, 44 at
different time slots. As the angle .alpha. of reflection of the
light generated by the first light source 42 is different from the
angle .beta. of reflection of the light generated by the second
light source 44, the measured intensity of the light generated by
the first light source 42 is in general different from the measured
intensity of the light generated by the second light source 44.
However, the ratio between the intensity value of the light from
the first light source 42 and the intensity value of the light from
the second light source 44 in general depends on the distance
between the light detector and the substrate. Therefore, the ratio
may be used to measure the distance h between the printhead and the
substrate. Each ratio (or range of ratios) may be associated to a
different height value. A look-up table may be used: each height
value h may be retrieved in the look-up table in correspondence
with a ratio (or a range of ratios). The retrieved height value h
may be stored (as an entry of the next height profile) in the
memory space 320, and in particular in a memory location which is
associated to the point whose height has been measured, for a drop
ejection to be performed subsequently (e.g., at the next
swath).
[0051] It is possible to sequentially alternate the time slots in
which only the first light source 42 is on and the time slots in
which only the light source 44 is on so as to obtain a plurality of
intensity values associated to the first light source 42 and a
plurality of intensity values associated to the second light source
44 and to average them before calculating the ratio.
[0052] The printhead 26 may move along the scan direction x while
the first and second light sources 42, 44 are alternatively
transmitting light. However, operations such as sequentially
switching on/off each light source, acquiring the light intensity,
calculating the averages and the ratio, retrieving a height value
in the look-up table, and saving the height value in the memory
space 320, are extremely quick. Therefore, it is possible to
associate a particular height value to each printing fluid dot
which is to be generated by a printing fluid drop.
[0053] The data acquisition and the calculation of the distance
(e.g., by calculating the ratio) may be performed according to the
instructions for acquiring the subsequent height profile stored in
the memory space 320.
[0054] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of a printer 50. The printer
50 may be an ink-jet printer, such as a latex ink printer. The
printer 50 may be controlled by a processor such as the processor
302. The printer 50 may perform some of the operations discussed
above and may comprise some of the components described above.
[0055] The printer 50 may be controlled so as to concurrently
perform two session. A first session may be a session of
dynamically controlling the timings of printing fluid drop
ejections to deposit printing fluid on a print zone (e.g., zone
24c), while a second session may be a session of measuring a height
profile of a pre-print zone (e.g., zone 24c').
[0056] The printer 50 may comprise a beam 52 which may be fixed.
The beam 52 may be sustained by lateral vertical elements 54, such
as two pillars. The printer 50 may comprise an advance device 55 to
move a substrate 24 along the advance direction y. The advance
device 55 may comprise a belt 56 which translates along the advance
direction y. The advance device 55 may comprise rollers or drums 57
which may rotate to cause the belt 56 to translate. The rollers or
drums 57 may be driven by motors (such as electric motors) which
are not shown. Alternatively, linear motors may be used. The motors
may be controlled by the processor 302, for example, so as to
control the movement of the substrate 24 along the scan direction
x.
[0057] The printer 50 may comprise a nozzle 22, which may be the
nozzle of any of FIGS. 2a-2d. The printer 50 may comprise a
plurality of nozzles, e.g., organized in an array or matrix. Among
the plurality, only one nozzle 22 is shown in the figures of the
sake of simplicity.
[0058] The nozzle 22 may be controlled, for example, by the
processor 302, e.g., using some of the operations defined at the
blocks 102, 324, and 326, to eject printing fluid drops (e.g.,
latex ink drops) while moving along the scan direction x.
[0059] The printer 50 may comprise a distance detector 26 (which
may be the distance detector of any of FIGS. 2c, 2d, and 4). The
distance detector 26 may be controlled, for example, by the
processor 302 or using some of the operations defined at the blocks
104 and 322, to determine a height profile while moving along the
scan direction x and while the nozzle 22 is ejecting printing fluid
drops. The distance detector 26 and the nozzle 22 may be fixedly
attached to a printhead 20 (which may be the printhead of FIGS.
2b-2d) so as to have a fixed distance. The printhead 20 may be a
thermal printhead. The printhead 20 may be a piezoelectric
printhead. The distance detector 26 and the nozzle 22 may be
positioned so as to have the same height in the vertical direction
z.
[0060] In order to move the nozzle 22 and the distance detector 26
in the scan direction x, a carnage 58 may be provided. The
printhead 20 may be mounted on the carriage 58, so as to face the
substrate 24. A gap is interposed between the printhead 20 (and in
particular the nozzle 22 and the distance detector 26) and the
substrate 24 (or the belt 56 when the substrate 24 is not present).
The gap has a height h which is in general variable and whose
profile may be measured by the distance detector 26.
[0061] The carriage 58 may be sustained by rods 60 which may extend
in the scan direction x and may be supported by the beam 52. The
movement of the carriage 58 may be driven by actuators controlled
by the processor 302.
[0062] When moving along a swath, the carriage 58 may travel along
the scan direction x forward or backward. In some examples, at a
first swath the carriage 58 moves in the scan direction x from a
first border 24a (e.g., a left border) of the substrate 24 to a
second border 24b (e.g., right border). At an immediately
subsequent swath, the carriage 58 moves in the scan direction x,
backward, i.e., from the second border 24b to the first border 24a.
While moving along the first swath, the nozzle 22 applies printing
fluid on a print zone (e.g., region 24c in FIGS. 2c and 5) and the
distance detector 26 measures the gap between the substrate 24 and
the printhead 20 in correspondence with a plurality of points of
the pre-print zone 24c'. Subsequently, the print zone is updated
(e.g., the region 24c' becomes the print zone as in FIG. 2d). Then,
while moving along the second swath, the nozzle 22 applies printing
fluid on the print zone (region 24c') and the distance detector 26
measures the gap between the substrate 24 and the printhead 20 in
correspondence with a plurality of points of the pre-print zone
(region 24c'').
[0063] In some cases, e.g., if the printer 50 is a latex ink
printer, the printer may also comprise heating elements, which may
define different temperature sections, e.g., along the advance
direction y. The heating elements may modify the temperature of the
substrate along the advance direction y. Therefore, at the same
time instant, different portions of the substrate 24 may be at
different temperatures. Hence, the substrate 24 may be transported
along different sections in the printer which distinguished by
different temperatures at which the support is to be subjected.
Each of the heating elements may be controlled by the processor
302, for example, to impose a determined temperature to the
substrate 24 in each temperature section.
[0064] One heating element may be a drying module 70 (FIG. 5). The
drying module 70 may be to convey hot air onto the substrate 24 in
correspondence with the print zone to dry the latex ink so as to
cause evaporation of water contained in the latex ink. In
particular, the drying module 70 may convey hot air onto a drying
zone of the substrate 24. A drying section 24d is therefore
defined. The drying module 70 may be placed over the carriage 50.
The drying module 70 may force a flux 70' of hot air towards the
substrate 24, e.g., along the height direction z. The portion of
the substrate 24 which is heated by the drying module 70 (drying
zone) is heated at the drying section 24d. The drying section 24d
contains the print zone 24c. A temperature for the substrate 24 in
the drying section 24d may be between 40.degree. C.-60.degree. C.,
in particular around 54.degree. C.-56.degree. C., more in
particular 55.degree. C. Accordingly, latex ink drops are fired in
a portion of the substrate 24 which is warm, and water contained in
the ink may evaporate.
[0065] One heating element of the latex ink printer 50 may be a
curing module 72. Them curing module 72 may convey hot air onto the
substrate 24 to cure the latex ink pigments. The curing module 72
may define a curing section 24e. In correspondence with the curing
section 24e, a flux 72' of hot air may be conveyed toward a portion
of the substrate 24, so that the portion of the substrate which is
in the curing section 24e tends to be at an intended temperature
for curing the printing fluid. The curing module 72 may be placed
so as to heat the substrate 24 from above. The curing module 72 may
be downstream, in the advance direction y, to the drying module 70.
The curing module 72 may force a flux 72' of hot air towards the
substrate 24, e.g., along the height direction z. The curing
section 24e may be in a position which corresponds to portions of
the substrate 24 which have already been printed on. The curing
module 72 may heat the substrate 24 up to a temperature which may
be over 65.degree. C., e.g., up to 75.degree. C. Accordingly, the
latex ink on the substrate may be dried. When latex ink is cured,
it forms a film in the surface of the substrate 24 which that
increases mechanical properties such as scratch resistance and
durability without detaching the pigments from the surface of the
substrate 24.
[0066] In the sections indicated with 24f' and 24f'' (which may be
respectively upstream to the drying section 24d and downstream to
the curing section 24e) the substrate 24 may be substantially at
ambient temperature.
[0067] The portions of the substrate 24 at different temperatures
may involve unpredictable deformations. However, by measuring in
real time the distance between the nozzle 22 and the substrate 24,
it is possible to perform a compensation by modifying the timing of
the drop ejection on the basis of the measured height of the
gap.
[0068] The distance detector 26 may be placed at a position which
is upstream to the position of the nozzle 22. The distance detector
26 may be also placed at a position which is in the same
temperature section of the nozzle (e.g., the drying section 24d).
Therefore, the pre-print zone 24c' and the print zone 24c may be in
the same temperature section, in correspondence with portions of
the substrate which have a similar temperature. In the case of the
latex ink printer, the pre-print zone 24c' is already at the
temperature for drying the latex ink (e.g., 55.degree. C.) and its
height profile along the scan direction x may be accurately
acquired.
[0069] Depending on certain implementation requirements, examples
may be implemented in hardware. The implementation may be performed
using a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disk, a
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD), a Blu-Ray Disc, a Compact Disc (CD),
a Read-only Memory (ROM), a Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM),
an Erasable and Programmable Read-only Memory (EPROM), an
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) or a
FLASH memory, having electronically readable control signals stored
thereon, which cooperate (or are capable of cooperating) with a
programmable computer system such that the respective method is
performed. Therefore, the digital storage medium may be computer
readable.
[0070] Generally, examples may be implemented as a computer program
product with program instructions, the program instructions being
operative for performing one of the methods when the computer
program product runs on a computer. The program instructions may
for example be stored on a machine readable medium.
[0071] Other examples comprise the computer program for performing
one of the methods described herein, stored on a machine readable
carrier.
[0072] In other words, an example of method is, therefore, a
computer program having a program instructions for performing one
of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on
a computer.
[0073] A further example of the methods is, therefore, a data
carrier medium (or a digital storage medium, or a computer-readable
medium) comprising, recorded thereon, the computer program for
performing one of the methods described herein. The data carrier
medium, the digital storage medium or the recorded medium are
tangible and/or non-transitionary, rather than signals which are
intangible and transitory.
[0074] A further example of the method is, therefore, a data stream
or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for
performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or
the sequence of signals may for example be transferred via a data
communication connection, for example via the Internet.
[0075] A further example comprises a processing means, for example
a computer, or a programmable logic device performing one of the
methods described herein.
[0076] A further example comprises a computer having installed
thereon the computer program for performing one of the methods
described herein.
[0077] A further example comprises an apparatus or a system
transferring (for example, electronically or optically) a computer
program for performing one of the methods described herein to a
receiver. The receiver may, for example, be a computer, a mobile
device, a memory device or the like. The apparatus or system may,
for example, comprise a file server for transferring the computer
program to the receiver.
[0078] In some examples, a programmable logic device (for example,
a field programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all
of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some
examples, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a
microprocessor in order to perform one of the methods described
herein. Generally, the methods may be performed by any appropriate
hardware apparatus.
[0079] The above described examples are merely illustrative for the
principles discussed above. It is understood that modifications and
variations of the arrangements and the details described herein
will be apparent. It is the intent, therefore, to be limited by the
scope of the impending patent claims and not by the specific
details presented by way of description and explanation of the
examples herein.
* * * * *